Edo 2020: Two police officers killed in auto crash involving Oshiomhole’s convoy
Two Policemen Tuesday lost their lives while several others sustained various degrees of serious injuries in an accident involving the convoy of former Governor of Edo state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
solomonagbator.com gathered that the accident happened at about noon on Tuesday at Oluku junction along the busy Benin-Lagos highway. The team was on its way to Usen in Ovia South-West local government area for the APC campaign ahead of the September 19 governorship election when a trailer carrying a container ran into one of the vehicles in the convoy, killing the two police officers instantly.
Henry Benamaisia, Edo Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, could not confirm the number of casualties as of 6.30 p.m yesterday but he said his officials had been dispatched to the scene of the accident.
“I am trying to find out the authenticity of the incident. I learnt it happened at Oluku junction. I have sent my men there to find out. I will get back to you as soon as I get the details,” Mr Benamaisia said.
However, Victor Oshioke, a media aide to Mr Oshiomhole, said the truck veered in the same direction of the convoy and ran into a Toyota Hilux carrying seven policemen.
Mr Oshioke said, “Some minutes after noon today, Tuesday, September 1, 2020, there was a motor accident involving the convoy of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, along Benin Lagos by-pass before Oluku junction.
“The convoy was heading to Usen Community in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State, where Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was expected to appear at a campaign rally alongside Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC governorship candidate in the September 19 election in the state, when a trailer driving in the same direction veered off its course, hit the back-up Toyota Hilux vehicle carrying seven policemen, forcing it off the road, into the bush and rammed into the sports utility vehicle carrying Comrade Oshiomhole, causing substantial damage.
“We are sad to report that two police personnel in the Toyota Hilux truck lost their lives while two others are in critical condition receiving treatment at a hospital in the state.”
He said Mr Oshiomhole and other persons in the convoy did not sustain injuries.
“It is pertinent to state, without fear of contradiction, that the convoy of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was maintaining legal speed limits when this incident occurred. This explains why the trailer, travelling in the same direction overran the Hilux truck off the road and still hit the SUV carrying Comrade Oshiomhole, causing substantial damage.
“Without prejudice to police investigations, eyewitnesses’ account of the incident suggests, and we believe rightly too, that this was an assassination attempt, targeting Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. It is painful that innocent policemen performing their legal duties lost their lives in this very unfortunate incident.”
He said the matter was immediately reported at the Ekiadolor Police Station, and investigations are ongoing.
“Finally we call on the security agencies to do everything possible to unravel the circumstances surrounding this incident, especially because of the threat to the life of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the violence which has been directed towards him and those around him in recent times,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has condoled with his estranged political mentor, Mr Oshiomhole, and the candidate of the APC, Mr Ize-Iyamu, over the road accident.
In a statement, the governor commiserated with the families of the victims of the crash and prayed that God grants them the fortitude to bear the loss of their loved ones.
